COMMUNITY FORUM

routing a curve on a routing table

I am kind of new at routing so here goes. I have a piece of wood that is 21 inches long by 2.5 inch wide and 0.75 inches thick. The one end of the 2.5 inch side is cut to a half circle (rounded). I need to use my router table with a quarter round bit to make all the edges round. Heres the questions I can round the straight edges fine but when it comes to that half round edge i can't get it to work good. the fence on the router table has the gap between the bit and fence where how do you rout a half circle.any help. Thanks

From the sound of things I would guess that you have a round over bit with NO bearing on the end of it.Do you have a starter pin in your router table? Remove the fence, and place the work against the pin then slowly contact the bit and work around the piece. Remember you want to push the wood into the bit as it turns Counter Clockwise on the table. There are many good books on router/shapers available or see when router workshop is on PBS in your area.

i'm new to routing and i have alway been told there is no dump question only the one not asked so here goes:what is a starting pin and how does it work?Also right now i'm using a quarter round bit with a pilot on the top. shoud i get a better bit with the bearing on it.Thanks Matta25

A starting pin is set in the table top to rest the work against before it contacts the router bit when doing curves, this prevents kickback.For what you are trying to do, you may want to take the router off the table.

Bits with pilots are fine for starting out, they will burn the edge of the work if you are not careful Build your collection of bits slowly, purchase carbide bits and stay away from the inexpensive sets.